~ Chapter 1 ~

For the last month, Loki had been avoiding Thor like the plague. He learned Thor's training schedule and his other habits in order to elude him. He even took to bathing in the middle of the night so Thor wouldn't apprehend him naked.

The only time he couldn't avoid him were during meal time. To be of the royal family you needed to keep up the vision of unity in the family, and he did his best to appear polite to Thor's attention. He didn't give his brother anything at all to take as encouragement, but simply by giving him his attention was enough for him to keep on going.

The hardest thing was that Loki couldn't go to anyone about Thor. If he went to Frigga, then Odin would find out. If Odin found out then all hell would break loose. Trying to talk to Thor had proven impossible because the oaf didn't see where his actions were leading to.

He couldn't talk to Thor's friends because they would only ridicule him and call him a liar. Sif would try to castrate him, and then go to Odin because she had a crush on the thunder God; she had big plans on being Thor's wife.

"If only she knew."

Thankfully, his life as a trickster had trained him in stealth activity.

Loki was on his way to the bath hall. It was a gigantic room with pools of all different kinds. There were the big pool for families or the warriors after training; there were the relaxing pool with waterfalls. Next to them were the single pool or the romantic pool for couples as they were known, it was not one time that a couple had been walked in on while being intimate. There was a pool for the children, and one for the adults. Needless to say, there was a pool for everyone.

Recently he had taken to the relaxing pool, needing to calm his nerves from his days. It was in the middle of the night and all of Asgard was sleeping. He stripped down his clothes and grabbed one of the many towels the servants left in the room. He snapped his fingers and lighted the candles with his magic.

In the flickering light he walked over to the water and put his foot in to test the temperature. Satisfied with it he stepped in and sunk down with a sigh. He settled down on the ledge under the water and relaxed, letting his muscles release all the tension and forget the previous days.

Steam rose up around him and engulfed his mind.

"So this is when you bath now, dear brother."

Loki startled out of his reverie and turned around sharply to see the object of his current distress standing not even a meter away. His lack of clothes was the first thing that crossed his mind; the second: "fuck!"

If it was intentionally or not, Thor was blocking his every escape road. Loki backed away with every step took closer, but soon they were standing chest to chest with the water up to their thighs. Thor was about a head taller so Loki was left staring up as his whole body went cold inside.

"I had to stake out this room just to find you. I knew that you would come here sooner or later." Thor said huskily, "but I got to say, you are really beautiful brother. More so than even the most seasoned warrior."

Although the compliment warmed Loki on the inside he knew he couldn't respond to it. He closed his eyes as Thor's breath ghosted over his face. Without knowing if it would work, Loki put his hand on Thor's chest and pushed him away gently.

"I would like to talk to you Thor but I have to get to bed before the whole night is gone." Loki stepped around Thor and to his gratitude he was not stopped. However, when he reached his clothes it became worse.

A hot body pressed against him his back and he could feel the desire in the other body against his skin. Loki swallowed hard as he wrapped the towel around his hips and used his magic to gather his clothes. Fingers ghosted over pale skin and black hair was gathered together as a kiss landed on his shoulder.

He had to get out of there. Now!

"Good night, brother." whispered Loki before he ran away; his clothes in his arms.

He didn't bother to look back to see if he were followed, none of that mattered. He just had to get to his rooms and then he would be safe. The halls echoed with his running steps and he knew that he were leaving a wet trail behind him, one Thor could easily follow. But that didn't matter anymore.

I wasn't till after he heard the click of the doors to his rooms behind him that he collapsed on the floor. His head reeling as he tried to make sense of what had happened.

Thor had watched the baths until he showed up. Loki shook his head. This was getting out of hands, and fast. That hadn't been his brother back there. It had been a man almost overcome with lust.

With some effort, Loki stood up and made his way to his bed. His clothes left lying in the middle of the room as he curled into the soft fabrics. Here he felt safe. Here he felt protected. Nothing bad would happen to him here, but if he stayed much longer then something would happen. Something all involved, and most of all Thor, would regret and he couldn't let that happen.

He knew what he had to do, his mind already planning his great but quiet escape.

Tomorrow, as soon as their father walked out his rooms, he would be there to inform him that he was taking an extended journey to the realm of white elves in order to study their magic first hand. He would be gone for months until his study were completed. After informing his parents he would leave as soon as possible with his steed. He would only return when he felt he had given Thor enough time to cool his head and think his actions over. If not then he would go on an even longer journey to another realm where he wouldn't return for years if needed.

Loki closed his eyes as he needed the few hours before dawn arrived and he put his plan into motion.

He would do this. He would not be the cause for his family to fall apart.

He would not let it happen.

TBC